President Xi emphasizes need to develop military capacity, training

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
11 Sep 2023 10:48
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A recent statement by the Chinese Defense Ministry cites President Xi emphasizing the need to improve combat readiness.

Chinese troops pose for a photo at the training ground "Tsugol", about 250 kilometers (156 miles ) south-east of the city of Chita during the military exercises Vostok 2018 in Eastern Siberia, Russia, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

Chinese President Xi Jinping has issued a call to enhance the capabilities of the national army, Sputnik reported citing a statement released by the Chinese Defense Ministry on Monday.

In the statement, the ministry revealed that President Xi urged for "improving the quality and level of combat readiness, increasing training in key and complex issues, as well as strengthening new combat abilities."

Furthermore, President Xi emphasized the importance of comprehensive strengthening of "party building" within the armed forces. This encompasses initiatives aimed at ensuring the cohesion, unity, security, and stability of the troops.

In the same context of making the People's Liberation Army more robust, China is actively engaged in a joint ground forces exercise with Singapore that commenced in late August and is set to continue until mid-September. This exercise serves the dual purpose of enhancing practical cooperation between the Chinese and Singaporean armies and elevating the level of real combat training for the troops involved.

In a recent piece for the New York Times, a fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies asserted that Beijing is actively establishing a worldwide network of "strategic hubs situated along China's crucial trade, energy, and resource pathways" which he described as a significant military challenge for the United States.

Beijing's purportedly new "under the radar" strategy is perceived as a direct challenge to Washington's capacity to execute vital international military operations, such as "safeguarding Taiwan."

In reaction to this growing danger, Singleton advocates for the United States to formulate a strategy aimed at proactively countering China's actions. This strategy may involve offering incentives or imposing penalties on host governments to thwart China's moves.

According to a report by Responsible Statecraft, there is undoubtedly a need to closely scrutinize China's military-related endeavors abroad, particularly in sensitive regions; however, this scrutiny should involve a meticulous analysis of concrete facts, distinguishing between proposed intentions and realized actions, as well as discerning between endeavors with commercial or military objectives and those related to non-military security. It's essential to assess the potential military advantages China could gain from specific locations or operations.